Self-adjusting parachute-arrow.



U. R. STEWART.v SELF ADJUSTING PARAGHUTE ARROW;

APPLICATION FILED NOV.'5, 1908.

Patented Mar. 16, I909.

witne oaco CLARENCE R. STEWART, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

' SELF-ADJUSTING PARACHUTE-ARROW.

Specification of Iietters Patent.

Patented March 16, 1999.

Application filed November 5, 1908. Serial No. 461,164.

Parachute-Arrows, of which the following is a s ecification.

his invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in toys of that type designed to be projected into the air as an arrow or dart and embodying a parachute which is collapsed or inoperative during the upward movement of the device, and which is intended to be automatically expanded by the pressure of atmospheric air, as the toy commences its descent, thereby retarding such descent and causing the device to return slowly and gracefully to the ground. -However, the chief objection to toys of this charactor has been that the air would often not inflate the parachute to effect the expansion thereof when the device commenced its descent,hence the toy would fall to the'ground with its parachute or sustaining means inoperative. Y

The object of this invention is a self-adjusting parachute arrow which embodies peculiar means for-positively distending the parachute as the device remains poised at the eight of its ascent, so as to insure the operatlon of the toy and obviate the disadvantages above; noted, such expanding means being arranged to be held inoperative during the upward movement of the arrow, sothat the,

parachute will remain collapsed and will thus offer a minimum resistance to the air.

With this and other objects in view that will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter-fully describe, and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

For a full and the merits thereof and to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to be had to the following descrip-' 'ior projecting the arrow into the air Fig. 2

1s a similar view showing the I position of the devicepreparatory to being understanding of the invention aunched' from the stock; and, Fig. 3 is a detail view of the parachute cover.

Corresponding and like parts ae referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by thesame reference characters.

,A'n-aerial toy constructed in accordance with my invention, embodies a shaft 1 which may be of any suitable material and of any desired construction or design, except that it is preferably provided at its upper end with a head 2 formed with an annular series of apertures to which a suitable number of suspension cords 4 are secured at one end. At their other e'nds, these suspension cords are attached in any suitable manner and atpredetermined intervals, to the outer edge ofa collapsible cover 5, so as to be adapted to suspend the shaft therefrom, said cover being made of cloth or similar material, and being arranged to be normally distended or .6X- panded in the form of a parachute.

.As the preferred means for positively effecting the normal expansion of the cover 5, I provide ribs 6 which are composedof light fiat springs that are secured to and extend diametrically of the cover, as shown, and normally exert the desired tension thereon. a le number 'ofrthese ribs may bejemployed, although in the present instance, I have-only shown the cover as equi ped with two'fiat springs that are arrange at right angles to each other and cross at their middle points, as best seen in Fig. 3. v

Secured at one end to the outer edge of the parachute cover 5, referably in proximity to the terminals of t e ribs, are a p urality of pull cords 7, to the other or free end of which It is to be understoodthat any suitis secured, a thumbor finger-piece 8 by means of which the o erator may hold the isgras ed an drawn downwardly, so as to lower t e parachute cover 5 against therhead turn of the toy causing 2 with the crossed portions of the springs or ribs bearing against the latter, the continued pull upon the finger-piece manifestly causing the springs or ribs to be bent downwardly to fold the same and the parachute cover 5 about the upper end of the. shaftl and the stock 9. The stock is then given a quick upward movement and is brought to a sudden stop, the finger-piece being released simultaneous with such movement, and the momenthe same to be projected upwardly into the air, it being particularly observed that the parachute'cover 5 is maintained in the colla sed condition in which it was projected or aunched into the air, since the resistance of' the air is sufficient to overcome the tension of the spring ribs. The toy then continues its upward flight untilit reaches the highest point of its ascent, and as it remains poised,- pre aratory to descending, the resistance of the air is manifestly removed from the collapsed parachute cover 5, whereupon the spring ribs are released and return to their normal positions,

to effect the plositive distending or expanding of the parac ute, so that the same will be filled with atmospheric air and the toy will thus descend slowly andgracefully to the ground. When the toy is descending, the suspension cords 4 are brought into use, and it will be manifest that the WGl ht' of the shaft 1 suspended therefrom will serve to maintain the toy in an upright position, even against considerably strong currents of air It is to be understood that I do'not limit myself to the form of parachute-cover illustrated in the drawing, but may employ a cover of any approved size or shape, and may secure the springs thereto in any manner found'most effectual in ractice. Having thus described the invention, what I claim isf 1. An aerial toy com rising a shaft, a parachute cover connecte thereto, means for normally exerting a tension upon the cover to positively expand the same, and means connected to the cover and independent of the shaft for holding the cover in collapsed condition against the tension of the expan- S1011 means. I

2. An aerial toy comprising a shaft, a collapsible parachute cover, means for suspending the shaft from the cover, means for normally exerting a tension upon the cover to positively expand the same, and means connected to the cover and-independent of the suspension means for holding the cover in apsed condition againstthe tension of the expansion means.

3. An aerial toy comprising a shaft, a collapsihle parachutecover, a set of cords secured to the shaft and the cover to suspend the former fromthe latter, means for normally exerting a tension upon the cover to positively expand the same, and 3 se 911d set of cords connected to the cover and independent of the suspension cords and ada ted to hold the cover in collapsed condition against the tension of the expansion means.

4. An aerial toy comprising a shaft, a collapsible cover, a set of cords secured to the shaft and the cover to suspend the former from the latter, means for normally exerting a tension upon the coverto positively expand the same, a second set of cords connected at one end. to the cover and independent of the suspension cords and adapted to hold the cover in collapsed condition against the tensionof the expansion means, and a fingeriece attached. to the other or free ends of the first named set of cords.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CLARENCE R. STEWART. [L s] Witnesses G. W. SoMMER, F. H. STEWART. 

